Removing and Installing Left Drive Shaft

Tools





The parking brake cable must be disengaged from the parking brake lever in the passenger compartment before the left drive shaft can be removed.

Disengaging the parking brake cable includes:
- Opening the lid of the oddments tray on the centre console and removing the rubber insert and the holder.
- Disengaging tab washer of the turnbuckle from the retaining lug on the upper and lower sides.
- Disengaging the relevant parking brake cable from the turnbuckle.

Removing left drive shaft

1. Raise vehicle and remove wheel.

2. Undo axle nut.

3. Slide a suitable protector (e.g. plastic tube, old coolant hose - dia. approx. 30 mm) over the drive shaft.
Undo the drive shaft on the transmission flange.

4. Remove stabilizer mount on the stabilizer.






Illustration shows the right side

5. Loosen but do not remove the spring strut screw (arrow).

6. Pull sensor cable (brake pad thickness monitoring) out of the holder on the body and on the brake caliper.

7. Unscrew strut of the headlight beam adjustment system on the lower control arm. Counter with a second open-ended wrench when doing this.







8. Press drive shaft out of the wheel hub toothing.


NOTE:
Since the drive shaft can be moved only using great force, loosen the shaft inwards with taps on a copper mandrel. Lift up the shaft near the inner joint (possible damage to the closure cap of the drive shaft may occur).
For unfavourable tolerances, the drive shaft must be pressed out of the wheel-hub toothing using a universal wheel-hub extractor.
Always check the boots for damage if continuing to use the drive shaft
Replace the boots if necessary.







9. Loosen the two upper control arms on the wheel carrier and remove the screws.

10. Press off the tie-rod ball joint on the wheel carrier with a press-out tool (ball joint extractor) - special tool 9560.
When loosening the locknut, hold it with special tool 9546 (Torx screwdriver).


NOTE: Do not damage the boot of the ball joint when pressing off the ball joint. If necessary, coat the boot and the ball joint extractor with tyre mounting paste.


11. Remove drive shaft. To do this, push the drive shaft on the transmission rearward and upward. Simultaneously fold the wheel carrier outward until the drive toothing can be pulled out of the wheel carrier. Pull the shaft out to the front (2nd fitter required).

Installing left drive shaft

- Install in reverse order.
- Grease the toothing of the drive shaft with Optimoly HT.
- Carry out a visual inspection of all parts.
Replace self-locking nuts.
Use correct tightening torques.


NOTE:
When installing the spring strut and tightening the two control arms, make sure that the spring-strut fastening screw (on the wheel carrier) and the control arm fastening screws are only tightened in vehicle position.
Vehicle position means: Vehicle standing on the wheels, or the wheel suspension is being raised with a universal lift.


- A calibration of the sensor of the headlight beam adjustment is not necessary.







NOTE:
Only optimised axle nuts -version B- for driveshaft fastening are available from the Parts Service.
These two-part fastening nuts (M22) have a moveable washer (arrows).
Retrofitting is possible for all 911 Carrera (996) vehicles and for all Boxsters.


- Check wheel-alignment values.
This step is necessary due to removal of the upper control arms on the wheel carrier.